bevaringvetenskap

Bevaringsvetenskap, sometimes translated as conservation science, is an interdisciplinary field focused on the preservation and conservation of cultural heritage. It combines knowledge from various scientific disciplines, such as chemistry, physics, biology, and materials science, with art history, archaeology, and curatorial practices. The primary goal of bevaringsvetenskap is to understand the materials and deterioration processes affecting objects and artworks, and to develop effective methods for their treatment and long-term preservation.

This field involves analyzing the composition of cultural artifacts, identifying causes of degradation like environmental factors, chemical reactions, and biological attack, and designing preventive measures. Researchers in bevaringsvetenskap also develop and test new conservation materials and techniques. This can range from creating stable display environments to devising methods for cleaning, consolidating, or restoring damaged objects. The application of bevaringsvetenskap is crucial in museums, archives, libraries, and archaeological sites worldwide, ensuring that cultural heritage can be studied, enjoyed, and passed on to future generations. It requires a deep understanding of both the scientific principles underlying material behavior and the historical and aesthetic context of the objects being conserved.